Here's where Donald Trump stands on healthcare

On November 8, Americans will have the chance to go to the polls
and elect the next president of the United States.

Both major parties, Republican and Democrat, will make their
cases to voters in the coming weeks.

Perhaps one of the most divisive topics is healthcare, and how to
reform it.

Here's where Donald Trump stands on healthcare reform, based
on information taken from his campaign website and public
statements.

Affordable Care Act

Donald Trump is strongly
against the Affordable Care Act and has called it a
"terrible" piece of legislation that was enacted by the most
"divisive and partisan" president in US history. He has
criticized the Affordable Care Act as having "resulted in runaway
costs, websites that don’t work, greater rationing of care,
higher premiums, less competition and fewer choices."

Frequently touting that he will "repeal and replace" Obamacare,
Trump has suggested that, as president, he will work with
Congress to adhere to free-market principles as much as possible.

Skye Gould/Business Insider

Trump supports modifying laws that are on the books and that
prevent insurance companies from selling in different states.
Currently, health insurance is regulated
at the state level, and insurers must obtain a license to
offer plans in individual states. Many firms, such as
UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna, offer plans in multiple
states. As free-market competition goes up, Trump asserts that
prices and premiums will eventually go down.

While more competition would in theory lower prices, it's unclear
how Trump's proposals would create legitimate competition among
healthcare providers.

Trump supports amending the current tax code to allow consumers
to deduct health-insurance costs from their taxes. He also claims
that he wants to review current Medicaid stipulations to ensure
that people don't "slip through the cracks" just because they
can't afford health insurance, though he wants to leave Medicaid
reform up to the states. He has also said that he would support
relaxing current regulations around Health Savings Accounts and
require price transparency from healthcare providers, though he
has not explained how.

Citing that providing healthcare to those who enter the US
illegally costs the US $11 billion a year, he has said he will do
his best to eradicate this cost by hunkering down on illegal
immigration, arguably the most
prominent issue Trump is running on.

Trump's vice presidential running mate Mike Pence also sharply
criticized Obamacare during Tuesday's vice presidential debate.
Noting that former president Bill Clinton had
slammed Obamacare as "the craziest thing in the world," Pence
said at the debate that "Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine
want to build on Obamacare. They want to expand it into a
single-payer program. And for all the world, Hillary Clinton just
thinks Obamacare is a good start." He reaffirmed that if Trump is
elected president, his administration would move to repeal
Obamacare "lock, stock, and barrel."

Mental health

Trump has also called for mental-health reform, claiming that
under the current system, families and patients are not receiving
the care and support they require. He has announced his support
for "promising reforms" being developed in Congress, though he
has not specified which ones.

In response to his
candidate questionnaire from the International Association of
Chiefs of Police about law enforcement's role in mental-health
intervention, Trump said that "unfortunately, law enforcement
will have to continue to play a role in how we proceed as a
nation with mental health reform."

He also expressed his hope that "community services and family
involvement" would play a larger role in combatting mental-health
problems as the nation moved toward solving the problem but
offered no elaboration.

Prescription-drug costs

With regard to drug prices, Trump hassaidthat the government needs to lower barriers into the market
for drug companies that can offer "safe, reliable and cheaper
products." He has also noted that drug companies, though a part
of the private pharmaceutical industry, provide a "public
service," and, as such, consumers should be given access to more
options that include "safe and dependable drugs from
overseas."